MACBAN and Afenifere Push for State Police Safeguards

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and the Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere have urged the National Assembly to incorporate strong safeguards in the proposed constitutional amendments for the creation of state police. This call comes amid ongoing legislative efforts to amend the 1999 Constitution to decentralize police responsibilities in response to worsening insecurity in Nigeria.

Baba Ngelzarma, the MACBAN spokesperson, stated in an interview that decentralizing police could help address the shortage of security personnel across the country. However, he cautioned that the recruitment process for state police should reflect the ethnic and religious diversity of the states to avoid dominance by any particular group.

Additionally, Afenifere highlighted the necessity of state police to tackle grassroots security challenges effectively. Ayodel Aris, an APC chieftain, emphasized the importance of public enlightenment regarding the benefits and drawbacks of state police and suggested that the amendment process should begin with a review of Section 214 of the Constitution.